Stencil-making machine.



N0. 642,64l. Patentefl Feb. 5, I900. H. F. SMITH.

STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.)

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STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 642,64l. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

' H. F. SMITH.

STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.) (No Model.) a sham-sheet a.

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STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Pateaited Feb. 6, I900.,

H. SMITH.

STENCIL MAKING MACHINE;

(Application filed A ug. 20, 1898.)

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N0. 642,64I. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

H. F. SMITH.

STENCIL MAKING MACHINE. (Application filed Aug. 20, fees. (No Model.) 8Sheets-Sheet 6.

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No. 642,64l. Patented Feb. 6, i900.

H. F. SMITH. STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(NoModeL) No. 642,64l. Patgnted Feb. 6, I900.

H. F. SMITH.

STENCIL MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1898.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HOWVARD F. SMITH, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

STENCIL-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 642,641, dated. February6, 196d. Applicaption filed August 20, 1898. Serialllo'. 689,126. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it Tit/L711] concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD F. SMITH, a citizenof the United States,residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stencil-Making Machines;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is directed to improvements in machines or appliances forthe prod uction of stencils, the object of the improvements being tosecure in such a machine or appliance simplicity and durability ofconstruction, ease of operation, and perfection in the finished article.

Generally speaking, the invention combines means for intermittentlyfeeding the strip of material from which the stencil is made intoposition to receive the character-perforations; means for governing suchfeed to secure in the stencil properly-spaced letters, words,

signs, and the like; means for shifting the strip transversely topresent different lines to receive the perforations; means, in the11ature of punches and dies, for perforating the strip; means foraccurately positioning and retaining the punches and dies in relation tothe strip,and means foroperating the punches to effect the perforations.

The details of construction and relative arrangement of parts of myimproved stencil: making machine-are set forth in the followin gdescription, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a plan View of astencil-making machine embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a front elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of theleft-hand side of the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame; Fig.5, afront elevation of the frame; Fig. 6, a plan View of thepunch-wheel; Fig. 7, a plan View of the diewheel; Fig. 8, a sectionalview of the rim of the punch-wheel, showing a punch in section.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the punches. Figs. 10 and 11 are bottomplan views of two of the punches, showing the positions of certain ofthe letter characters. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional View of themachine, taken on line 12 12, Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectionalview of the punch and die wheel shifting mechanism, taken on line 13 13,Fig'. 1. Fig. 1-1 is an enlarged fragmentary View in elevation, partlyin section, of the stripfeeding mechanism, showing the means forgoverning the feed to secure properly-spaced characters.' Fig. 15 is anenlarged vertical sectional view of the strip-feeding mechanism, takenon line 15 15, Fig. 1.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the frame of themachine, which consists of a base a, of skeleton form, having the maincircular portion a and the extensions a and a Centrally of the portion aof said base is a tubular standard a in which is fitted a tubularspindle b, having a reduced upper end 12' and below such reduced portionlongitudinal slots b Mounted to rotate on the reduced portion 5 of thespindle are the punch-wheel O and die-wheel D, which are rigidlyconnected with each other and also with a pinion 6. These wheels andpinion are confined between the shoulder formed by the reducedportion 1) and a nut N, which is screwed onto the upper end of thespindle. The punch-wheel is'provided in its rim with an annular seriesof circular openings 0 0, each of which receives a punch F, it beingunderstood that for each character required a sep arate punch isemployed. Each of the punches comprises a tubular body f, internallythreaded at its ends to receive screw-plugs f f the plugf having in itsunder side the character-punch, as shown. The body f is'provided with aspline f which by engagement with a groove 0, provided in the side ofeach opening 0, prevents the punch from turning, while at the same timeit permits longitudi nal movement. The body of the punch is slotted inopposite sides, and through these'slots and the side of the opening cispassed a bridgepin f between which and the upper plug f is confined acoiled spring f In practice after a punch has been depressed to form thecharacter-perforation the action of the spring restores it to its normalelevated position. The die-wheel D is provided in its rim with anannular series of openings cl cl, corresponding in number and positionto the openings 0 in the punch-wheel. Around the openings d thedie-wheel is depressed to provide'recesses, in which are removablyhelddie-blocks of segmental form, the top of the blocks being flush with thetop of the die-wheel. In each block are cuts for characters, the cutsacting as dies.

d is a stripper-plate interposed between the die-wheel and punch-wheeland secured to the under side of the latter, as shown in Fig. 12. Thisstripper-plate is provided with character-perforations corresponding tothose of the punches and dies and operates to strip the punch in amanner readily comprebended.

G denotes a segmental rack-bar the teeth of which mesh into the teeth ofthe pinion e, said bar being pivotally supported on a standard a on theframe extension a An arm G, which is rigidly connected with the rackbar,extends outwardly through a slot a, provided in a segmental portion a ofthe frame extension a and terminates in a downwardlyprojecting handle 9.On the outer side of the segmental portion 6L7, above the slota, arenotches corresponding in number to the number of character-punches andso marked as to indicate the relative disposition of the latter. Afinger g is carried by the arm G, said finger being movable with a blockand a spring g is employed to move the finger to bring theinner taperedend into engagement with one of the notches aforesaid. g is a triggerwhich is connected to the finger to enable the latter to be movedbackward by hand to disengage its end from a notch. The punch and diewheels being rigid with the pinion and the latterhaving meshingengagement with the rack-bar G, any movement of the arm G iscommunicated to said wheels, and it will therefore be understood thatwhen said arm and bar are moved to bring the finger opposite a certaincharacter indicated on the notched segmental portion a such movementwill bring the corresponding punch and die into proper position for theperforating operation.

I-I denotes a tubular anvil which may be formed integrally with the basea and which extends upward to, but is out of con tact with, the rim ofthe die-Wheel. The opening of the anvil is in the path of the punchesand dieblocks and is of the same size in cross-section as the openingsdin the die-wheel. In practiee the material cut from the strip fallsthrough said opening into a suitable receptacle. The punches aredepressed to effect the perforations in the strip by the action of ahammerl, arranged in the path of the punches above the latter andcarried by a bar I, the inner end of which has pivotal connection with arod 2', vertically movable in the tubular spindle Z): The lower end ofthe rod 2' is slotted and is pivotally connected with a lever J, whichis passed through the slots Win the spindle and is therefore capable ofvertical movement to effect the depression of the hammer and punchthrough the rod i and bar 1. One end of this lever J is pivoted to theframe, as atj, and between this pivotal connection and the connectionwith the rod 1' is a coiled spring j, confined between the lever and thebase, said spring being compressed in the downward movement of the leverand operating to restore the latter when released to its normal elevatedposition. Near its outer end the lever J is olfset, and at its end is ahandlej Referring more particularly to Fig. 12, K denotes a bracketsecured to the frame, its upper arm being bifurcated at its outer endand pivotally connected with the bar 1. Pivotally secured to thisbracket at k is a bell-crank lever L, one arm lot which has rodconnection with the outer end of the bar I. This rod, which is letteredZ, has opposite threads at its ends to permit of adjustment. The otherarm Z of the leverL is connected, by means of a rod Z with a crank-armM, which is loosely moun ted on a shaft N, journaled in bearings a 'n onthe frame. This crank-arm carries at its upper end a spring-controlledpawl m, which is adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet-wheel m, saidwheel being rigid with a roller m fixedly mounted 011 the shaft N. Thisroller m together with a roller 0, mounted above it, constitutes thestrip-feeding means, the strip, whether it be supplied from the rollp orotherwise, being passed between the aforesaid rollers and thence betweenthe punch and die wheels. The spring 7123 for the pawl m engages ashoulder which is provided on the latter above its pivot, whereby thespring op-' erates to hold the pawl either into or out of engagementwith the ratchet-wheel m, said pawl carrying an arm on, by which suchengagement and disengagement may be effected by hand. The upperfeed-roller 0 is mounted in movable bearings o, and o are springs whichare interposed between said bearings and the frame and operate to pressthe roller 0 upon its companion roller m This roller 0 is provided withmeans by which it maybe raised free from the roller m to permit of theinsertion of the strip, said means consisting of a crank-arm o journaledto the frame and provided with a handle 0 and of a rod 0, which connectsthe arm and bearing, whereby movement of the arm lowers or raises thefeedroller o to bring it into orout of contact with the roller m Theroll 19 is removably mounted in the outer ends of arms 1) 19', extendingfrom the frame, and is provided with flanges 19 11 be tween which thematerial-say paperis wound. If the nature of the material will not admitof its being wound upon the roll, then it is fed between theflangesp thelatter serving as guides. The means for shifting the strip transverselyto bring a new line to be perforated consists of an armq, the outer endof which is bifurcated and engages an annular groove (1, provided in theroll 1) beyond one 0f1ts flanges, while the inner end of the arm isfixed to a rod (1 which is movable in openings in the frame. This rod qhas in its under side recesses g any one of which is adapted to beengaged by a spring-button to lock the rod in position. The rod carriesat its outer end a knob q, and obviously by moving the rod in or out theroller 0, together with the strip, will be shifted to present any part'of the latter beneath the punches.

end of a lever r pivoted to a standard r on the frame. This cam 4" has abeveled point which is adapted when moved to engage the pawl and raiseit out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, thereby governing the feedof the strip to accord with the varying widths of characters. The otherend of the lever r is arranged in the path of a series of projections dand depressions 01 provided in the'under side of the die-wheel D.

By reference to Figs. 10 and 11 it will be observed that the letters andother characters are located relatively differently on the punches, thevariations of location being governed-by the widths of the characters.The letter M is the standard both as to Width and position, theright-hand edge of this letter governing the right-hand edge of eachother letter or character, or, in other words, the right-hand edge ofall the characters are similarly positioned with reference to theright-hand edge of the punch-bodies The depressions d on the under sideof the diewheel are in vertical alinem cut with the wider letters, whilethe projections d are in alinement with the narrower letters, the resultbeing that when a wide letter, such as M, is brought into punchingposition the inner end of the lever r is elevated, while its outer arm,together with the cam r, is depressed to permit the pawlm to engage andmove the ratchetwheel to feed the strip the proper distance, it beingunderstood that the feed of the strip is always governed by the durationof contact between the pawl and ratchet-wheel m. When a narrower letter,such as I, is to be employed, a projection d engages the lever r tocause the cam to disengage the pawl from the ratchet-wheel when the pawlreaches the predetermined point, and thereby feed the strip aproportionately less distance, and so on. A spring r operates tomaintain the inner end of the lever r in the path of the series ofgoverning projections and depressions.

8 denotes a locking-lever which is pivotally secured to one side of theanvil and is caused to engage an v one of a series of recesses formed inthe periphery of the die-Wheel and to lock the latter by the action of acoiled spring 3'. This lever is normally out of en gagement with therecesses, its outer end being elevated and its inner end depressedagainst the action. ofthe spring by contact with an arm 8 carried by thelever J.

The operation is as follows: The material of the stencil coming from theroll or from any other source is passed between the feedrollers and isguided by the fingers g to a point between the punch and die wheels, theroll and fingers being set to bring that portion of the strip which isto be perforated in the path of the punches and dies. The strip beingproperly positioned for the first line, the first letter or othercharacter punch is brought above it by the manipulation of the arm G andintermediate connections, this being accomplished by swinging the arm tobring its finger into engagement with the proper notch on the segmentalportion a The lever J is now depressed, and the locking-lever 8 beingreleased the spring s'"moves it into engagement with one of therecesses, and the punch and die wheels are thus firmly held in properposition. the lever J through the bar I, lever L, and pawl and ratchet mm causes the strip to be fed forward the proper distance, after whichthe punch is depressed to perforate the strip by the movement of thehammer through the manipulation of the lever J, rod i, and bar I. Thelever J is then released and raised by its spring, the punch-iselevated, and the lock ing-lever 3 moved to free the die-wheel, and thenext character-punch is brought into po sition and operated, and so onuntil, say, a word is completed, after which a blank punch is presentedto obtain the proper space between this word and the next character. Aspreviously stated, provision is made for securing in the stencilproperly-spaced characters regardless of their varying widths. Should awide letter be presented to the strip, the feed-rolls are, through theemployment of a depression in the under side of the diewheel, the leverT and its connection with the pawl m and ratchet m, rotated to feed thestrip the proper distance, and when a narrow letter is presented thesame means, together with a projection on the said wheel, operate tofeed the strip a relatively less distance. If the perforated matter inthe strip is to be arranged in different lines after a line iscompleted, the upper feed-roller is raised, and through the medium ofthe rod g and arm q the roll and guide fingers are moved to shift thestrip transversely to present the new line.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the various steps of theoperation may be rapidly performed without the exercise of skill andwith the minimum of labor. The

machine is comparatively simple in its construction, the parts few innumber, and there is little or no liability to disorder. The ma-v Themovement of IIO chine may be produced at a low cost and may be suppliedwith an unlimited number of interchangeable punches and dies.

The material employed for the stencils is preferably paper; but anyother thin sheet material may be used, whether it is capable of beingreeled or not, as if such material is to be fed only in a fiat state theroll flanges and fingers will still serve as guides therefor.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine of the class described, thecombination of a series of punches and dies, means for eifectin g themovement of a punch and die into operative position, means forintermittently feeding a strip of material to the punch and die,punch-operating mechanism, and mechanism operated as a punch and diepositioned for governing the feed of the strip to produceproperly-spaced characters.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series ofpunches and dies, means for efiecting the movement of a punch and dieinto operative position, punch-operating mechanism, means forintermittently feeding a strip of material to the punch and die saidmeans being actuated by the punchoperating mechanism, and mechanism forgoverning the feed of the strip according to the widths of thecharacters controlled by devices movable with the punches and dies asthe latter are being positioned.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series ofpunches and dies, means for effecting the movement of a punch and dieinto operative position means for intermittently feeding a strip ofmaterial to the punch, said feed being governed by the varying widths ofthe characters, means for operating the punch to produce the perforationin the strip, and means for shifting the strip transversely to present anew line to be perforated, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series ofpunches and dies, means for operating the punches, strip-feedingmechanism actuated by the punch-operating means, means controlled bydevices movable with the punches for governing the feed of the stripaccording to the widths of the characters, and means for shifting thestrip transversely.

5. In a stencil-machine, the combination of a wheel having in its rim aplurality of openin gs, punches vertically movable in said openings eachhaving a tubular body provided in its lower end with a removable plughaving a character, a bridge-pin passed through the wheel-rim andthrough slots in the punchbody, a spring interposed. between the pin andwheels, a rod connected at the other end of the lever and verticallymovable in the spindle, and an operating-lever connected with the lowerend of the rod.

7. In a stencil-making machine, the combination of a punch-wheel and adie-wheel, a hollow spindle on which said wheels are mounted, a tubularanvil below the rim of the die-wheel, a hammer above the rim of thepunch-wheel, a bar carrying said hammer fulcrumed near one end, aspring-controlled lever passed through slots in the spindle, and a rodmovable in the spindle and connecting the lever and bar, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a stencil-making machine, the combination with the strip-feedingrollers, of a ratchet-wheel carried by one of said rollers, a crank-armloose on the shaft of said roller and carrying a pawl engaging saidratchetwheel, a punch, a hammer for operating said punch, a bar carryingthe hammer, said bar being pivoted near one end, a bell-crank 1everhaving rod connection with said end of the bar and having rod connectionwith the crank-arm, and an actuating-lever operatively connected withthe other end of the bar.

9. In a stencil-making machine, the combination with a die-Wheel andpunch-wheel rotatably mounted on a tubular spindle,stripfeeding rollersone of which is rotated by pawland-ratchet mechanism, a pivoted barcarrying a hammer for operating the punches, said bar being operativelyconnected at one end with the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, a rodconnected. with the other end of the bar vertically movable in thespindle, and an actuating-lever connected with said rod.

10. In a stencil-making machine, the combination of strip-feedingrollers one of which is fixed to a shaft and is provided with means forits intermittent rotation, and the other of said rollers being journaledin spring-controlled movable bearings, and means for raisin g andlowering said other roller comprising a pivoted crank-arm and handle,and a curved rod connecting the outer end of the crank-arm and theroller-shaft, whereby the crank-arm may be moved beyond the dead-centerto hold the roller in raised position.

11. In a stencil-making machine the combination with a wheel carryingpunches in its rim, and a die-wheel therefor, of stri p-feedin grollers, mechanism forintermittently actuating said rollers, and meansfor governing the feed of the strip to produce properly-spacedcharacters, consisting of depressions and elevations at the charactersof varying widths, and a lever one end of which is in the path of thedepressions and elevations, the other end being operatively connectedwith the rolleractuating mechanism.

12. In a stencil-making machine, the combination with a punch-wheel anddie-wheel, means for moving said wheelsto position, a punch and die,ahammer, a spring-controlled lever operatively connected with saidhammer a spring-controlled locking-lever normally held out of engagementwith said wheels by engagement with the aforesaid lever but adapted tobe carried into looking position when released by the movement of thesaid lever, substantially as set forth.

13. In a stencil-making machine, in combination with a wheel carryingpunches in its tively connected with the other end of the lever andadapted when moved to control the period of engagement of the pawl withthe ratchet-wheel in the manner and for the purpose substantially as setforth.

14. In a stencil-making machine, the combination of the die-wheel havingon its under side an annular series of depressions and projections inalinement with characters of unusual widths, strip-feeding rollers oneof which carries a ratchet-wheel, a crank-arm loose on the shaft of saidroller carrying a pawl in engagement with the ratchet-wheel, a cammovable to engage the pawl, a spring-controlled lever one end of whichis in the path of the depressions and projections and the other end ofwhich has rod connection with the cam, substantially as set forth.

15. In a stencil-making machine, the combination of the strip-feedingrollers, a striproll slidably mounted to the rear of said rollers, aslidable rod, an arm rigid with said rod and engaging said roll, andguide-fingers on said rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD F. SMITH.

-W itnesses OoRA HEALD, HATTIE M. IsBnnL.

